Private James Deans

Private James Rutherford Deans, 1st/4th (Border) Battalion, Kings Owen Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli, aged 19, on the 2th July 1915 during the “Charge on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah. He had been born in Westruther, Berwickshire and was the son of David and Elizabeth Deans of Easter Langlee, Galashiels. He had been employed on Chapel Farm, Lilliesleaf when he enlisted and landed with the Battalion on Gallipoli, in June 1915 as part of the 52nd (Lowland) Division. 12th July became known as the “Black Day of the Borders” as only 70 unwounded men answered evening roll call out of the over 700 Officers and Other Ranks who had begun the attack. Few Border towns and villages had not lost at least one of their sons that fateful day. The first photo shows Achi Baba the objective of the attack. This “hill” dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second shoes the Borderers going over the top at Gallipoli and the third shows the battlefield in 1922. A full account of the Battle can be found in Gavin Richardson’s excellent book “For King, Country and the Scottish Borderers”.